Some civil liberties advocates feel the President shouldn't have the power to order the killings of Americans on U.S. soil. (Source: Drone Wars UK)

The feds won't be happy about this

Not in our state.

I. Drone Controversy Heats Up

That's the message Florida legislators sent to law enforcement official both at a federal and state level, as well as defense and national intelligence agencies when it came to allegedly abusive overuse of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly dubbed drones. The officials this week passed a law that would not altogether ban drone use in Florida, but would seriously restrict it.

Some law enforcement officials argue that for small police forces, lighter drones -- which cost around $30,000 USD -- are a highly cost-effective tool for patrolling and can help catch criminals. They say banning drones will raise costs.

II. Florida Limits the "Police State"

But those pleas fell on deaf ears as Florida legislators passed the "Freedom From Unwanted Surveillance Act" SB 92 117-0. Gov. Rick Scott (R) has already promised to sign the bill, which will make Florida only the third state to restrict drone use. Idaho and Virginia had passed similar laws.

Under the bill drones could only be used by law enforcement in a handful of scenarios -- for example searching for a kidnapped child, managing hostage situations, searching for a dangerous fugitive, or tracking hurricanes/wildfires to prevent serious property damage. But any use in a criminal case will now require surveillance to be ordered via a warrant -- ensuring due process. Illegally gathered evidence, under the law, will not be admissible in court and may lead to penalties for the collecting department.

It also contains an allowance for drone use in the case of a "credible threat" of an (imminent) terrorist attack.

I am not sure who lobbied for this measure and I would be interested to see who it was. The one sure beneficiary will be drug smugglers. Florida has a lot of money that arrived in the state this way. I also don't expect the federal government to roll over and simply say "sure you can pass a law that shuts down our security systems along the border of the country. I would expect the SCOTUS to over turn this if that is what the Florida legislature is expecting to get out of this. Defending the country from external threats is one of the primary reasons for the existence of the federal government.

On the other hand, if this is just to stop some local cop from earning more funds from property seizures from drug busts, I would definitely support it.

"Google fired a shot heard 'round the world, and now a second American company has answered the call to defend the rights of the Chinese people." -- Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.)